Zanzibar's Secrets: Spice, Stone Town & Prison Island Epic

Amazing tour, had a great day exploring the spice farm, prison island and stone town. Saw lots of huge turtles 🐢

Completed the tour with Abkar who was a friendly and knowledgeable guide. Was collected on time by a nice driver and Abkar was at the Spice Farm when I arrived. The tour was about 1h30 and followed by lunch which was tasty. There were also fruits and a coconut. Take plenty of small notes as everyone seems to expect a tip! The driver took us back into town and we did a walking tour which was again interesting. Especially the slavery museum. Abkar provided some good background. Finally Prison Island. Some nice views and a visit to the tortoises. An enjoyable day.

Abkar was a wonderful guide! I learned so much about the history of Zanzibar. He was the perfect companion for the day - he balanced giving me information and also allowing me to quietly experience each place we went. It was a long day but I would not have wanted anyone else to guide me through. I felt comfortable asking (many) questions, and I also felt safe and well taken care of. Thank you Abkar!

It was an enjoyable day with the guide. He dropped us at the spice farm and we had a tour of this. Then we walked around stone town and finally on to prison island. It was well organised and a fun day

I highly recommend this tou! Abkar was our guide for this wonderful tour. First, we stopped at Jambo Spice Farm, where we were treated with an informative tour of thw farm, but also surprised with authentic local cuisine that included fresh spices amd some hand made gifts. We purchased several spices and tea mixes from their huge selection to take home with us. We then went to Stone Town and weaved through the bustling open market, toured a historic church and former slave trading post. Abkar shared plenty of history for each stop. Although it was not part of the tour, we made a stop to shop for tanzanite jewelry as a surprise for our 3 daughters.. we appreciated Abkar's patience as we compared jewelry at 3 different stores. After that, it was off to prison island, which exceeded our expectations. There were so many friendly tortoises for us to interact with. We had as much time as we wanted to take pictures and interact with these gentle, beautiful creatures, one of which we learned was 200 years old. We also took many pictures of the incredible views from the island looking into Zanzibar City. I'll also note that the tour company was accommodating and responsive prior to our trip. For an additional cost, they were able to arrange transportation to/from Riu Jambo hotel in Nungwi Beach, which was not one of the pickup points. They also allowed us to push the trip back by 2 days due to last minute illness that I notified them about 4 hours before our pickup time. This was much appreciated, since it fell outside Viator's 24 hour cancellation window.

Abkar was an excellent tour guide, showing me all the interesting plant spices at the spice tour and giving me interesting facts about Stone Town. Additionally, he allowed the tour to run slightly over to ensure an excellent experience. Lastly, he picked me up and dropped, ensuring that I wouldn't get lost.

I had such a wonderful day with Ismael on this tour. We started with the spice farm where I learned so much about Zanzibar’s spices and got to eat delicious pilau rice. Ismael was very knowledgeable and explained things very well. We then went on a tour of stone town and learned about the history of the East African slave trade and got to see the markets. Finally ended at prison island and got to spend time with the turtles and other animals on the island. I really appreciate Ismael’s explanations of everything, made my experience 10x better.

This was a slightly different tour than the description provided. Ours was done in a different order. First we were picked up on time by a nice driver who took us to the “Jambo Spice Farm”. Very interesting and lovely people run this place. Our guide was a young man who knew his stuff but it was a wee bit difficult to understand him due to his heavy accent. We tasted and saw many varieties of plant life that are spices made for many uses. Then there is a lunch that was excellent!! Of course there were spices for sale! After that we headed back into Spice Town for a boat ride to Prison Island; Home of the oldest Tortoises alive. One was 200 years old. Our Guide Hassan was very informative and friendly. Then back on the boat back to spice town for a walking tour which ended up in the very large public market of Zanzibar. Outrageously large. By that time we’d been sightseeing for close to 8 hours and were getting tired. We were taken back to the area near our hotel. I highly recommend this tour for first time visitors to Zanzibar. You won’t regret it!!

Mady is absolutely the best. If you book this tour, I recommend requesting him. He is knowledgeable, and so personable! Spice Farm Tour Our visit to the spice farm was a delightful sensory experience of both smell and taste. I was greeted by the lush greenery, scents and tastes of various spices. My guide, Mady, was incredibly knowledgeable and made the tour engaging with his insights about vanilla, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom (to name a few). I enjoyed a hands-on experience, of smelling & tasting fresh spices and learning about their uses in cooking and traditional medicine. The highlight was the lunch, which was hands-down the best meal I had the entire trip! The tour was educational and fun, suitable for all ages. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. There are fresh, organic spices, tea, coffee, soaps, and oils for sale. Bring plenty of schillings so you do not miss out on the opportunity to take these wonderful spices home! Stone City Walking Tour The Stone City walking tour was a journey through history. Wandering the narrow streets of Stone Town, we marveled at the stunning architecture influenced by Arab, Indian, and European cultures. Mady shared fascinating stories about the island’s rich history, including its role in the spice trade and the slave market. We visited key landmarks like the Old Fort, each with its unique charm and significance. Prisoner Island Tour The Prisoner Island tour was both a historical and natural highlight of our trip. The boat ride to the island was scenic and fun, with beautiful views of the coastline. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the iconic giant tortoises, some over a century old. Feeding them was a memorable experience, and I learned about the conservation efforts in place to protect these remarkable creatures. The island also has a history as a former quarantine station for yellow fever, which added an intriguing layer to the visit. We explored the remains of the old prison. This tour was a great blend of history, nature, and relaxation. The water can be choppy on the way back to the mainland, so take something for motion sickness if you don’t enjoy the ocean. Personally I enjoyed it, however I am a fish in water. I highly recommend these tours to anyone visiting the island! Additionally, Mady was exceptionally accommodating; he was flexible with my schedule and adjusted the pace of the tour to suit my preferences. This made the experience even more enjoyable and personalized. Ali, our driver, set the perfect tone with his music—definitely ask him to put on the DJ Lyta mix for an unforgettable vibe!

Good tour but I felt like it was slightly overpriced for a solo traveler. Two of the main attractions--House of Wonders & People's Palace Museum--were advertised as "admission included"; however, these sites are currently permanently closed because the buildings are dilapidated. We did visit the Darajani Market instead which was a highlight. Also, the tour started a little late and ended a little early even though it was advertised as 9 hours.